Smeargle are unusual white and brown Pokémon that seem unremarkable at first, but they possess a tail with an end that resembles a paintbrush. This paintbrush is oozing with paint. The color of the paint is apparently different for each Smeargle. Although sprites from the game depict green, brown and red, the anime also shows yellow and blue. It's been implied that each Smeargle has a different colored tail.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Smeargle secretes a fluid from its tail, which can be used as paint. Smeargle is the only Pokémon known to express itself in an artistic fashion. Smeargle is also the only Pokémon that can learn any move permanently thanks to its signature move, Sketch.
Behavior
Smeargle live in groups. When a Smeargle reaches adulthood, the other members of the group draw a paw-print pattern on its back. Those who refuse to let themselves be marked are ostracized from the pack.
Smeargle are very adaptable, and can live just about anywhere. One can always tell when a Smeargle's territory is found because it will mark the boundary with the paint-like substance excreted by its tail.
Pokémon Channel: A Smeargle appears in a television program called Smeargle's Art Study. He will rate the painting hanging on the player's bedroom wall, namely a picture the player made.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Smeargle marks the boundaries of its territory using a body fluid that leaks out from the tip of its tail. Over 5,000 different marks left by this Pokémon have been found.
Smeargle marks the boundaries of its territory using a body fluid that leaks out from the tip of its tail. Over 5,000 different marks left by this Pokémon have been found.
A Smeargle marks its territory using a fluid that leaks out from the tip of its tail. About 5,000 different marks left by this Pokémon have been found.
Smeargle can learn any set of moves due to Sketch, which permanently copies any move. Smeargle can only learn one Sketch at a time. In Generation II, Sketch can't be used to learn Selfdestruct, Explosion, or Metronome. In Generation IV, Sketch cannot be used to learn Chatter.
Smeargle is the only non-legendary, non-Template:Type2 Pokémon able to legally know Draco Meteor. Smeargle is also the only non-starter Pokémon able to legally know Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn and Hydro Cannon and the only one able to legally know them all.
Smeargle is one of three Pokémon legally able to use Transform, the others being Mew and Ditto.
Since Sketch lets Smeargle learn any move, it can also pass down egg moves to any Pokémon in the Ground Egg Group.
In Generation II games, Smeargle's shiny form changes its original brownish color to green. In later games, however, green becomes its most common color, while the shiny color is red. The exception to this is Colosseum, where its tail appears red.
Paradoxically, Smeargle is simultaneously the Pokémon with the smallest movepool (learning only one move ever, which ties it with Ditto and Unown) and the Pokémon with the largest movepool (using that move to "learn" almost any other move).
Origin
Smeargle appears to be based on a beagle and a painter.
Name origin
Smeargle's name may be a combination of smear and beagle. Its Japanese name may be a combination of dog and doodle or dabble – to splatter liquid, which could be a reference to paint being splattered.
In other languages
German: Farbeagle - From Farbe (color) and beagle.
French: Queulorior - From queue (tail) and colorier (color).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Smeargle images on Bulbagarden Archives.
